May Mistakes by Merry Farmer

After the death of her father, Miss Elaine Bond had decided to embrace life as an independent woman…much to the chagrin of her neighbors. Her eccentric ways alarm the entire town of Brynthwaite, to the point where concerned friends turn to the only person they believe can settle Elaine into a respectable married life, mysterious bookseller Mr. Basil Wall.

Basil has been in love with Elaine since the moment he moved to Brynthwaite years ago, but the secret that drove him out of London and into the remote Lake District has kept him from declaring himself. At least until a twist of fate throws the two potential lovers together in a way that neither of them expected.

But what begins as a romance that is as charming as it is sultry turns into a game with far higher stakes when the infamous Missing Earl of Waltham is tracked down and dragged out into the light. And with the fate of Parliament—not to mention a bill increasing the rights of women—in the balance, Basil must choose between love and duty. Which leaves Elaine caught between what is right and what is proper, and leads her to an adventure far more daring than any of her Brynthwaite neighbors could dream of.